Geographical clock



May 12, 1953 M. L. BEYER GEOGRAPHICAL CLOCK Filed Nov. 15, 1950 if w INVENTOR BYmu 71.

ATTORNEY Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEOGRAPHICAL CLOCK Millard L. Beyer, Hempstead, N. Y.

' Application November 15, 1950, Serial No. 195,867

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a clock, and more particularly to an illuminated novelty clock which in addition to indicating time accurately serves as an attractive ornament.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a simple and inexpensive clock structure which indicates time simultaneously of a number of different time zones.

Other features of the invention will be found in the following description given with the aid of the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a clock according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken through 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a detail showing a detachable time zone indicator.

Referring now to the drawings, the clock comprises a base I preferably stamped from a single piece of non-tarnishable metal formed with a fiat upper surfaceY Il and a turned over depending edge I2 which provides a support for the clock and a space underneath surface I I for enclosing ,a conventional electrical clock motor I3 withits reduction gearing.

The clock motor I3 is enclosed preferably in a casing I4 formed with a flange I5 Which is fastened coaxially to the under side of fiat surface I I by suitable screws or rivets.

V The clock spindle I6 projects upwardly through a centrally located opening in surface I I. A disc I1 formed with a slightly inset flange or ridge on its upper surface is fastened to spindle I6 by any suitable means such as nut I9 which presses the disc against a shoulder formed on spindle Disc I1 supports a hollow thin-walled cylinder preferably formed from Lucite or other suitable transparent material, the edge of the cylinder resting on the portion of disc I I extending beyond the flange. Cylinder 25, being quite light in weight, is secured to disc Il by frictional engagement, with flange I 8 and, if desirable, by any further suitable means. From the foregoing it will be understood that disc Il is driven by the clock motor I3 and the transparent cylinder 25 turns therewith. Preferably the gear train of the clock motor is such that the spindle I6 and the parts driven thereby make one revolution in twentyfour hours.

Four rods 26, 2l, 28, and 29 are secured to the flat surface Il of the base by nuts 30. These 2 rods preferably have a non-tarnishable surface, such as chrome, or they may be formed of a suitable stainless metal. Rods 2l, 28, and 29 are tubular, while rod 26 is of much smaller cross section and solid. Rod 26 serves additionally as an indicator.

The rods 26-29 at their upper ends support a ring 33 immediately over the upper edge of the transparent cylinder 25 but clear of the same. The upper ends of the rods extend through holes in ring 33 and are fastened thereto by nuts 34. A series of depending flaps 35 are punched out of ring 33 and extend into cylinder 25 immediately adjacent its inner surface but normally slightly spaced therefrom. The flaps protect the cylinder assembly by preventing any appreciable accidental displacement of the upper portion of the cylinder with respect to the rotary disc I'l.

An electric light socket 38 is mounted on a detachable plate in an opening formed in the center of ring 33 and a light bulb 39 depends therefrom into the interior of 'the transparent cylinder 25. The wires 40 and 4I for the light bulb are led from the external power circuit 42 at the base through the bore of rods 29 and 21, respectively, which arrangement serves to conceal the wires.

The upper part of the structure is enclosed with a dome-like removable cover 45 preferably stamped from thin metal and formed with a depending edge closely fitting over the edge of disc 33 which frictionally holds the cover in place.

A plurality of spaced bands 46 may be printed or otherwise marked about the circumference of the transparent cylinder 25 and numbered to indicate hours and marked with suitable graduations therebetween to show fractions thereof, the numerals of certain of the respective bands being offset circumferentially in accordance with the difference in time between time bands.

Time bands 46 may be printed on a transparent plastic tape which may be provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive on its under surface which makes it possible to install the time bands on the Lucite cylinder relatively offset as desired in accordance with different time zones.

Rod 26 is positioned along the mid-section of the front of the clock and serves as a time indicator in cooperation with the graduations on the bands 26. This rod may be made quite thin, having a diameter, say, of about one sixteenth of an inch. Rod 26 supports a plurality of name plates 50, one for each time band 46. The plates and rod may be formed as a single unit, for example, by casting or punching. In the enlarged detail structure shown in Fig. 4, the name plates 50 are 3 shown as being detachably secured to rod 26 by spring clips 5l. It is intended that the name plates 5l) shall carry on the front faces thereof the names of desired cities throughout the world,v

printed or applied thereto in any suitable manner, for which it is desired to indicate time. The name plates shown in Fig. 1 are too small to permit such printing in the drawing.

The device disclosedin addition to beingr an attractiv'enovelty, provides on' aA single cylinder an easily read`indication of time in any'desred group of time zones, and is of particular utility to radio amateurs and others interested in inter; national communication.

What is claimed is:

1. In a clock of the character described; a'base" member, a clock motor supportedfthereby; a' holsv low transparent cylinder supported for rotation about a vertical axis by the clock motor; a plusA tinieindicating numeralsl relatively offset in ac# cord/ance'with different time zones, a common stationary" vertical member' servingas an indicator or'the'Y bands1 a plurality of vertical'rods securedto the ba'se in spaced relationship extending beyondthe'upperend ofthecylinder, a ring secured'"totherodsoverlying th'eupperend or the cylinder,` a lam'p 'extending 'into 'thecylinder "de-` tachably supported by the ring, and'a'cover mem'- bei' enclosing the upper' portion of the structure detachably secured to the ring.

3' Ii'a' clock'ofthecharacter described, albase meinbena' clock motor supported'therebyl, a yhollwtra'risparent vcylinder mark'ed`with a pluralityr o'findependent ltime' scales relatively. oiset in accordance with differentftime' zones driven about a vertical 'axis 'by the motor, a .verticalrodl'secured to thebase serving as `a common reference .for all scales, `a plurality of additional vertical `ro ds .securedfto the basefin spaced relationship, aring supporte'dlby the vertical'rods overlying'the.- top offthelcylindenand'a cover member frictionally secured'to'theedg'e portion of thering.

4. A combined/clock and lamp structurecornprising al base member, a clock motor supported thereby; a' hollow transparent cylindermarked with' a `p'll'i'r'ality of v'time scalesrelatively oifsetin accordance with different Ytime zones, videntifying IriarljersY fr each Zone, .a vertical'rod .secured to the base for supporting." the iclentifyir'ig.V markers andprovidin'g" a comm-on reference for allvtime scales, a. plurality oi 'additional verticalfrodsse'- curedtdtl''e base in spaced'relationshin-.a*plate supported 'by' 'the' vertical rods overlying` the `rtop of the cylinder, a lamp extending into the cylinder supported by the plate, and a cover for the structure having an edge portion formed to overlap the edge of the plate and frictionally engage the same.

5. A combined clock and lamp structure comprising a base member, a clock motor supported thereby, a hollow transparent cylinder marked with aplurality of timescales relatively4 offset in accordancewithdifferent tinezones,Z identifying markers for each zone, a vertical" rod secured to the base for supporting the identifying markers and providing a'common reference for the various timescales, a plurality of hollow rods vertically secured .to the base in spaced relationship, a plate supp'orted'bythe hollow rods overlying the top ofthevcylinder,:afflamp extending into the cylinder supported by the plate, potential circuits for the-lamp extending from the 'base through one or more of the hollow rods, and a cover for the topil ofi the?. structure,- having. an'. edge* portion formed? to zoverl'apithe. edge rof therplatezrandfr'i tionally;engageitheisame:

6. In a clock of thecharacter described;y afbafse member; ,afclockimotor"supported thereby-,1a hollowftr-ansparentlcylinderf'marked'witii@plurality of 'time r-scalesir elatively 'offset Iinv I accordance 1Awith diierent time zones driven aboutie;y verticalgaxis by' the motor, acom'monreference.lforzthefscales comprising a rod fsecuredtothefbase and :disposed alongside ltliefsurface/:oi the bcylin'd'er; ai plurality oi verticalv rods:` securedlto the;V base in.;r spa-'ced relationship", -a' ring? supported byvtheverltieal .rod's overlying the top of the cylinder, means depende ing frorn' the".v ringf foru preventing" accidental lateral displacement of the cylinder, and aicovei' mem-ber vfrictierra-ilyj secured'- to -the edge-portion of the ring.

7L A-combined clockla'nd'ornamentallampcornprisinga base, a clock motor supported thereby, ar hollow' transparent" cylinder marked*y with a plurality of? time scales" relatively oiiset ini acfcordance with" dierent time zones 'driven about ajve'rtical aXis-by"the-motor; a. common reference forl thel scales compris-ing a" rod securedI to"v the base-and positioned1 alcngsidfthe surface offtlie cylinder; a plurality--offverticalro'dstsecured'tothe base, a ring supported thereby/"overlying"tnetbp of the. cylinder; means? depending?- from triering fors preve'ntingl aceidental lateral` displac'ement'iof the cylinder;A a lamp supported" by= the rin'gf'exftending downward into' tl'iefinteri'or' ofithecylin'- der; and: a"'-cove'r member d'etacl'iablyr' secured to the ring,"

MILLARED*Ll B'EYE'R.

References Citedl in" the. 1i1e1crf1tnisipat-'entil UNTED slrrn'sI PATENTS* 

